Means for accumulating and placing frankfurters in a package



April 5, 1966 D. G. KAMPA ETAL 3,243,935

MEANS FOR ACCUMULATING AND PLACING FRANKFURTERS IN A PACKAGE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1962 INVENTORS DONALD ca. KAMPA HBT RRY W. WEPR\N F FE 5.

April 5, 1966 D. a. KAMPA ETAL 3,243,935

MEANS FOR ACCUMULATING AND PLACING FRANKFURTERS IN A PACKAGE Filed Feb. 21, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. DONALD 6|. KAMPA HARRY W. WEPPAN MEANS FOR AGCUMULATING AND PLACING FRANKFURTERS IN A PACKAGE Filed Feb. 21, 1962 April 5, 1966 D. s. KAMPA ETAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 wvsrw'ons. DONALD a. KAMPA HAR BK RY w. wEPRm FLi-i April 5, 1966 D. a. KAMPA ETAL 3,243,935

MEANS FOR ACCUMULATING AND PLACING FRANKFURTERS IN A PACKAGE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 21, 1962 mmmg P mKw aw f Y A mHw April 1966 n. e. KAMPA ETAL 3,243,935

MEANS FOR ACGUMULATING AND PLACING FRANKFURTERS IN A PACKAGE Filed Feb. 21, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIHIHIHIIIIIHIHHlllllily g INVENTORS. DONALD G. KAMPA EAJXRRY W. WEPPAN MEANS FOR ACCUMULATING AND PLACING FRANKFURTERS IN A PACKAGE Filed Feb. 21, 1962 April 5, 1966 o. G. KAMPA ETAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS. DONALD Cu. KAMPA HARRY W. WEPR\N United States Patent MEANS FOR ACCUMULATING AND PLACING FRANKFUR'IERS IN A PACKAGE Donald G. Kampa, La Grange Park, and Harry W.

Weprin, Chicago, 111., assignors to Armour and Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 174,888

10 Claims. (Cl. 53-164) This invention relates to a method for accumulating and placing elongated articles, such as frankfurters, in containers, and to means useful for practicing the method.

In packaging sausages or frankfurters, it has been the usual practice to position a number of operators along a belt conveyor which carries a supply of franks or sausages. The operators then manually pick up and position the sausages in suitable containers. When the desired number of sausages is positioned within a container, the package is transferred to the wrapping operation.

This manual packaging of franks is quite expensive since a large number of operators are required for maintaining the desired high production rate. There would clearly be a great saving in time, labor and expense if such manual operations could be replaced by apparatus which would accumulate and position franks in suitable containers. However, it has previously been considered necessary to manually package franks since all known packaging apparatus was incapable of handling franks in View of the highly unusual shape, soft texture and slippery surface of the product. It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide novel method and means for accumulating and packaging elongated articles, such as frankfurters.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method for accumulating or gathering frankfurters from an orderly or a disorderly supply and positioning the same in suitable containers.

It is a further object of this invention to provide apparatus for aligning frankfurters and dispensing the same in containers.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide apparatus for centrifugally aligning frankfurters and positively dispensing the same into appropriate containers.

It is still another object of this invention to provide apparatus for aligning franks, dispensing the same into appropriate containers, and also transferirng the same from the aligning apparatus to the dispensing apparatus.

Further purposes and objects of this invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of the present invention wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus for gathering and packaging frankfurters;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispensing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a partially broken, top plan view of one of the gathering units depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side view, in elevation, of means used for transferring the franks from the gathering apparatus to the dispensing apparatus;

Patented Apr. 5, 1966 FIG. 7 is a partially broken, top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a detail view taken along line 88 of FIG. 7.

In general, the apparatus, generally 10, for accumulating and placing elongated articles 11 in containers 14 comprises means, generally 12, for gathering the elongated articles 11, means, generally 13, for dispensing the elongated articles 11 into appropriate containers 14, and means, generally 15, for transferring the elongated articles 11 from the aligning means 12 to the dispensing means 13.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, gathering means 12 includes inner revolving disc, generally 16, and outer revolving ring, generally 17. At its central section, the inner disc 16 has a generally conical shaped portion 18 which is adapted to receive franks or elongated articles 11 from an overhead supply such as a hopper or an overhead conveyor (not shown). The disc 16 and coned portion 18 are secured to shaft 19, which in turn is rotatably mounted on the ,frame, generally 20. The lower end of shaft 19 is rotatably mounted in bearing 24 and the central portion of shaft 19 is rotatably mounted in bearing 26, bearings 24 and 26 both being fixedly secured to frame 26. Sheave 27 is fixedly secured to shaft 19, and is in contact with belt 28 which communicates with a suitable drive means or motor (not shown).

Sleeve 30 is rotatably positioned around shaft 19 by means of journal bearings 31 and 32 and thrust bearing 33. Sheave 34 is fixedly secured to sleeve 30 and is rotated by belt 35 and a suitable drive means or motor (not shown). Also secured to sleeve 30 is collar 36, which carries a plurality of arms 37.

Outer revolving ring or annular member 17 is positioned generally adjacent to and beyond the outer edge 40 of disc 16. As shown more clearly in FIG. 5, ring. 17 is fixedly secured to arms 37. Arms 37 pass through bearing blocks 45, which are in slidable contact with both inner disc 16 and supporting ring member 46, which is fixedly secured to frame 20. Arms 37 also pass through apertures 47 in outer ring 17, and are held in position by suitable means such as washers 48 and 49.and pins 50. Ring 46 provides a support surface for bearing mem-, bers 45 and thereby permits rotational movement of outer ring 17. Sliding contact is maintained between the upper surface 51 of members 45 and disc 16 and also between the lower surfaces 52 of members 45 and supporting ring 46.

Means 53 for retaining the elongated articles 11 on the aligning means 12 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, means 53 includes rollers 58 which are vertically positioned and rotatably mounted on frame 20 at the outer edge 59 of ring 17. Rollers 58 enable the franks 11 to rest on ring 17 while they move freely with respect to frame 2% as rollers 58 provide bearing contact for franks 11.

Means, generally 125, are provided for maintaining a single, unstacked row of franks 11 in position on the outer ring 17. Means includes deflector plates 126, unstacking members 127, and rotating cylinders 128, 129 and 139.

A plurality of vertical deflector plates 126 are provided so as to maintain a single row of franks 11. Plates 126 are angularly disposed adjacent to ring 17 so franks 11 are deflected towards the coned portion 18 of disc 16. The plates 126 are maintained in place by brackets 131 which are attached to frame 20.

Unstacking members 127 are fixed to frame 20 and are disposed opposite to plate 126. Members 127 are adapted to deflect any franks 11 that happen to become stacked in a vertical direction on ring 17. The franks 11 are then thrown towards conical portion 18 by plate 126. Unstackers 127 are positioned approximately the diameter of one frank 11 above revolving ring 17.

Rotating cylinders 128, 129 and 130 are positioned near the transferring means 15 and are adapted to prevent more than one frank 11 to be moved by transfer means 15. As shown in FIG. 8, cylinder 128, like unstackers 127, is positioned approximately one franks diameter above ring 17. Cylinder 129 is positioned immediately above disc 16 and adjacent to the outer edge of disc 16. Cylinder 130 is rotatably positioned next to cylinder 129 so as to cause extra franks 11 to be returned to the disc 16 for proper positioning. Cylinders 128, 129 and 130 are rotatably mounted to overhead drive means 132 and all are rotatable in the same direction, causing franks 11 to pass towards the conical portion 18.

Referring to FIG. 2, the dispensing means 13 includes support frame which carries an air cylinder 66. Frame 65 is secured to frame 20 of gathering means 12 by brackets 67, as shown in FIG. 1. The air cylinder 66 is maintained in position on frame 65 by tie rods 68, which are secured to frame 20 and also to end member 69 of cylinder 66, by nuts 70. Tubing 71 communicates with end member 69 and provides a passage for air from a compressed air source (not shown) to the air cylinder 66. Also, the air cylinder piston shaft 73 is fixed to pusher member 72, as at 73a. Guide rods 74 and 75 are slidably positioned in frame 65 and are also attached to pusher plate 72. Secured on the underside of frame 65 are supports 76 and 77, to which rotatable members 78 and 79 are mounted by pins 80 and 81 which are fixed to blocks 76 and 77. Secured to rotatable members 78 and 79 are arms 82 and 83, to which cam rollers 84 and 85 are rotatably mounted. Upon downward movement of pusher plate 72, rollers 84 and 85 are maintained in cam track 86, which is integral with pusher plate 72. Vertical guide rods 87 are fixed to frame 65 and assist in maintaining gathered franks 11 in position.

Lower guide rails 88 are fixed to frame 20 of aligning means 12 and communicate with breakaway rails 89 which are integral with rotatable members 78 and 79. Upper guide rods 90 are secured to frame 20 and communicate with rods 91 which are secured to the underside of pusher plate 72. Guide rods 92 are fixed to lower guide rails 88 and co-operate with guide rods 87 to maintain the elongated members 11 in proper position upon downward movement of pusher plate 72 during the dispensing operation.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, means 15 for transferring elongated articles 11 from the aligning means 12 to the dispensing means 13 includes horizontal pus-her means, generally 102, rotatable pusher means, generally 103, and vertical pusher means, generally 105. Horizontal pusher means 102 is secured to support 67 and includes air cylinder 105 having a piston shaft 106, which is secured to pusher 107. Pusher 107 is in turn secured to guide rods 108, which are slidably positioned in bearing block 109. The air cylinder 105 is actuated by suitable means 99 when an elongated article 11 is in proper position on the aligning means 12. Means 99 may be an electric eye apparatus which includes a transmitter 100 and a receiver 101.

Pusher means 103 is hingedly secured as at 111 to support which is on frame 20. Pusher means 103 includes air cylinder 112 which is provided with shaft 113. Pusher 114 is fastened to central shaft 113 by nut 115 and is provided with appropriate slots or notches 116 which allow pusher 114 to fit around rails 88.

Vertical pusher means 104 is rotatably secured to support 118, which is secured to frame 20, and incldues air cylinder 119, which has a shaft 120. Shaft 120 carries support 121, which holds the front portion 122 of pusher means 103.

Now that the details of structure of the apparatus have been described, the operation of the apparatus will be explained.

Operation In FIG. 1, there is an illustration of two units 10 for accumulating and packaging frankfurters 11. Such double units are used for the purpose of increasing the capacity of a given frankfurters packaging system. However, since the operation of each unit 10 is substantially the same, the description of the operation will relate only to a single unit 10.

In operation, frankfurters 11 are usually dropped from an overhead supply, such as an overhead conveyor (not shown). The franks 11 are generally dropped on conical section 18 of aligning means 12. The franks 11 slide down the conical portion 18 and are thrown centrifugally outward from cone 18 by centrifugal force, since the disc 16 is suitably rotating at a speed of between about 20 rpm. and 26 r.p.m., and preferably at about 24 rpm. When the franks 11 reach the outer edge 40 of the disc 16 they are received by the outer revolving ring 17, which is suitably rotating at a speed ranging from about 15 to about 19 r.p.m., and preferably at about 17 r.p.m. Both disc 16 and ring 17 rotate in the same direction and in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1.

Franks 11 rest on ring 17, which moves them with re spect to frame 20, since'rollers 58 allow free movement between franks 11 and frame 20. Franks 11 are prevented from doubling up in a horizontal direction by means of deflector plates 126 and are prevented from stacking up in a vertical direction by means of unstackers 127 whereby a single row of franks are maintained on the outer ring 17. If there is still a double row of franks 11, rotating cylinders 128, 129 and 130 cause extras to be thrown towards conical member 18, thereby allowing only individual franks 11 to pass to the transfer means 15.

Referring to FIG. 7, when a frank 11 breaks the electric eye passing between the transmitter 100 and receiver 101, the air cylinder 105 of pusher means 102 is actuated by suitable means, such as a solenoid valve (not shown). The pusher 107 then transfers a frank 11 through the outlet 55 and for a short distance in the space between the lower guide rails 88 and the upper guide rods 90. After positioning a frank 11, air cylinder 105 is deactivated, and the pusher 107 is returned to the starting position. The described cycle of operations continues until suitable means, such as a counter (not shown), indicates that a desired number of franks 11 are accumulated between lower guide rails 8-8 and upper guide rods 90. Then air cylinder 119 of pusher means 104 is activated and forces pusher means 103 upward so pusher 114 is positioned between a plurality of franks 11 and the aligning means 12. Followng this, the air cylinder 112 of pusher means 103 is activated and causes the franks 11, to be moved the remaining distance along the space between rails 88 and rods 90, until the desired number of franks 11 are positioned between the pusher plate 72 of dispensing unit 13 and are resting on breakaway rails 89. When the desired number of franks 11 are in position beneath the pusher plate 72, air cylinder 66 is activated by suitable means, such as a solenoid valve (not shown), which will have been activated upon a signal from the counter. Upon actuation of air cylinder 66, air cylinders 119 and 112 are deactivated and the pusher member 114 is returned to the starting position.

Air cylinder 66 causes rapid downward movement of pusher plate 72, which at the same time causes rotation of members 78 and 79 about pivot points 80 and 81, allowing the franks 11 to be forced downward into containers 14. The pusher plate 72 is activated by the air cylinder 66 at a rate of acceleration in excess of that of gravity so the franks 11 remain positioned against the pusher plate 72 during the dispensing operation. The timing apparatus (not shown) for actuating the various air cylinders is arranged so that the dispensing means 13 acts following completion of the transfer means 15. The franks 11 are inserted in any suitable containers 14, such as boats, bands, etc., which are approximately positioned along an intermittently moving conveyor 125.

In the unit shown in FIG. 1, the conveyor 125 moves the containers 14 at such speed that one group of franks 11 are inserted at the first of the units 10, and a second group of franks 11 is inserted at the second unit 19, so as to provide a single package having two rows of franks 11. It can be seen that this double apparatus provides a higher capacity packaging system.

After the franks 11 are placed in the containers 14, they are transferred to the wrapping operation.

Although the process for gathering and packaging the franks 11 should be apparent from the foregoing description, briefly, the inventive method includes the steps of centrifugally aligning elongated articles or franks 11, moving the articles 11 from the aligning operation, and then dispensing the articles 11 into approximate containers 14.

While in the foregoing specification we have described the apparatus and method of procedure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating a specific embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that such details of structure and procedure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

WVe claim:

1. In apparatus for accumulating and packaging elongated articles, comprising a frame, retaining means thereon, rotatably-mounted means on said frame for receiving and aligning said elongated articles against said retaining means, means attached to said frame for dispensing said elongated articles into appropriate containers, and means for transferring said elongated articles from said aligning means to said dispensing means.

2. In apparatus for gathering and aligning elongated articles, comprising a frame having means for retaining said elongated articles, a disc, rotatably mounted on said frame, a ring, rotatably mounted on said frame and positioned concentric to said revolving disc, drive means for rotating said disc and said ring, whereby the rotation of said first disc causes said elongated articles to be positioned on said ring and to be movably positioned against said retaining means.

3. In apparatus for aligning a disorderly supply of elongated articles, a frame having means for holding said articles, a horizontally disposed disc rotatably mounted on said frame, means for rotating said disc, a ring rotatably mounted to said frame and concentric to said disc, and means for rotating said ring, whereby said articles are thrown from said disc to said ring by centrifugal force for alignment of said articles against said holding means.

4. In apparatus for gathering and packaging elongated articles, means for aligning said articles, said means including a frame having means for retaining said articles, a disc rotatably mounted on said frame, a ring rotatably mounted on said frame and positioned concentric to said disc, drive means for rotating said disc and said ring, whereby the rotation of said disc causes said elongated articles to be positioned on said ring and movably positioned against said retaining means, means for dispensing said articles in containers, said last mentioned means comprising a frame, means for forcing said articles downward into said containers, and means aligned with said forcing means and attached to said frame for maintaining said articles in position as said articles are being positioned, and means for transferring said articles from said aligning means to said dispensing means.

5. In apparatus for gathering elongated articles together in an orderly manner, means for aligning said articles, said means including a frame having means for movably holding said articles, a horizontally disposed disc rotatably mounted on said frame, means for rotating said disc, a ring rotatably mounted on said frame and concentric to said disc, means for rotating said ring, whereby said articles are thrown from said disc to said ring by centrifugal force for alignment of said articles against said holding means, means for dispensing said articles in containers, said means comprising a frame, means for forcing said articles downward into said containers, means aligned for said forcing means and attached to said frame for ma ntaining said articles in position as said articles are being positioned, and means for transferring said articles from said aligning means to said dispensing means, said last-mentioned means comprising lower and upper guide rails for retaining said articles, pusher members for moving said articles along said guide rails, said lower guide rails having a breakaway portion, said forcing means being aligned with said breakaway portion for moving said articles downward when said breakaway portion is removed.

6. In apparatus for accumulating and inserting sausages in containers, means for centrifugally aligning said sausages, said means comprising an inner revolving disc and an outer revolving ring, adjacent to said disc for maintaining a single row of sausages on said disc, a retaining wall having rotatable members for holding said sausages on said aligning means, said sausages being aligned against said rotatable members upon rotation of said inner disc and said outer ring, means for dispensing said sausages into appropriate containers, said last-mentioned means comprising a member for forcing a plurality of sausages downward into said containers, and means for transferring said sausages from said aligning means to said dispensing means, said transfer means having a pusher member for moving said sausages from said aligning means to said dispensing means in a confined state, said pusher member positioning said sausages under said forcing member for the placing of said sausages in said container.

7. Apparatus for gathering a supply of sausages and dispensing said sausages into appropriate containers, comprising retaining means, centrifugal means for aligning said sausages against said retaining means, means for transferring said sausages from said aligning operation in a confined condition, means for positioning said sausages for a dispensing operation, and means for forcing said sausages downward into said containers at a force in excess of gravitational force.

3. Apparatus for collecting a supply of sausages and inserting said sausages into suitable containers, comprising retaining means, means for subjecting said sausages to centrifugal force whereby said sausages are positioned against said retaining means, means for moving each sausage individually from said retaining means, guide rails, means for transferring said sausages to said guide rails, means for positioning a plurality of said sausages for the inserting operation, and means for positioning said sausages in said containers by a force in excess of gravity.

9. Apparatus for collecting a supply of sausages and positioning said sausages in suitable containers, comprising retaining means, centrifugal means for collecting said sausages against said retaining means, means for pushing said sausages from said retaining means in a confined condition, means for aligning said sausages for a positioning operation, and means for downwardly pushing said sausages into said containers.

10. In apparatus for collecting a supply of sausages and dispensing said sausages into appropriate containers, a frame, a disc rotatably mounted to said frame, a ring rotatably mounted to said frame and concentric with said disc, a first drive means for revolving said disc, a second drive means for revolving said ring, an outlet from said ring, means for sensing the presence of a sausage at said outlet position, upper guide rails positioned adjacent to said outlet, lower guide rails positioned adjacent to said outlet, and in spaced relationship to said upper guide rails, said lower guide rails having a breakaway portion, means for ejecting a sausage through said outlet upon a signal from said sensing means, a second frame secured to said first frame, said second frame carrying means for pushing said sausages into appropriate containers, said pushing means being aligned with said breakaway portion of said lower rails, said breakaway portions being rotatably mounted to said second frame whereby upon downward movement of said pushing means said breakaway portions move out of position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Popov 53-450 Nurnberg.

Jackson et al 53150 Seifert 99174 Rumsey 99174 Good 53164 X 10 TRAVIS s. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner,

HYMAN LORD, Examiner. 

1. IN APPARATUS FOR ACCUMULATING AND PACKAGING ELONGATED ARTICLES, COMPRISING A FRAME, RETAINING MEANS THEREON, ROTATABLY-MOUNTED MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR RECEIVING AND ALIGNING SAID ELONGATED ARTICLES AGAINST SAID RETAINING MEANS, MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME FOR DISPENSING SAID ELONGATED ARTICLES INTO APPROPRIATE CONTAINERS, AND MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING SAID ELONGATED ARTICLES FROM SAID ALIGNING MEANS TO SAID DISPENSING MEANS. 